USC Trojans: Carl Lawson

The sudden decommitment of ESPN 150 defensive end Kylie Fitts (Redlands, Calif./Redlands East Valley) on Tuesday added a twist to the ever-changing USC recruiting landscape, stirring a bit of drama with less than four weeks until national signing day.

Carl Lawson (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton), the No. 2 prospect in the country, has taken one trip in the last two months, an unofficial visit to Clemson back in November on the weekend that Auburn head coach Gene Chizik was fired. The 6-foot-2, 251-pound defensive end is set to take his first official visit this weekend.

"I set an official to Clemson," Lawson said. "I am interested and excited about visiting such a wonderful program such as Clemson."

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -– Five-star defensive end Carl Lawson (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton) has been committed to Auburn since March. After Gene Chizik was let go and replaced by former Tigers offensive coordinator Guz Malzahn earlier this month, schools lined up to try and get Lawson on campus. If he had his way he would oblige as many of his suitors as possible.

“I would like to visit Clemson, Tennessee, FSU, UCLA, USC, UNC and Ole Miss, but realistically the five I visit might be Clemson, Tennessee, Ole Miss, UNC and USC,” Lawson said.

UNDER ARMOUR GAME 2013

LOS ANGELES -- With all 16 verbal commitments selected to compete in the upcoming all-star games, the USC Trojans will have great representation under the national spotlight. There will also be particular interest in a handful of in-game announcements, namely that of recent official visitor Leon McQuay III (Seffner, Fla./Armwood), a top safety target who intends to enroll early. Here’s a guide to all USC recruits in next week’s All-American games:

No. 1 ILB Reuben Foster has voiced his desire to play with at least one of his SEC-bound friends next season. But will he follow Tray Matthews to Georgia or hook up with Dee Liner wherever the ESPN 150 DL settles? It remains to be seen, but the mystery surrounding his recruitment keeps Foster at the top of our #BlueChipBattles.

Each week, RecruitingNation summons its writers from around the country to compile a list of the top 10 battles for elite football recruits leading up to February's signing day.

New Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn wasted no time in making the trip to see five-star defensive end Carl Lawson (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton), the highest-rated commitment of the Tigers’ 2013 class. Lawson has stuck with his commitment as he waits to see who might be coaching him for Auburn, and he met with Malzahn first last Friday. His father, Carl Lawson Sr., said the meeting went well.

Tom Hauck/ESPNHSCarl Lawson, No. 2 overall in the ESPN 150, committed to Auburn in March but is uncertain since the school's coaching change.

“It was a good conversation, and we were impressed with what he has done with his career,” Lawson said. “He was very driven and focused on what he wants go get done. “

One thing Malzahn made sure to present to the Lawson family was his gameplan for how Auburn will succeed on the field.

There have been many hypothetical questions surrounding the USC Trojans. What if senior center Khaled Holmes had been healthy for the Stanford game? What if Matt Barkley had spiked the ball in the last-minute drive at Arizona? What if USC made an adjustment or two against the vaunted Oregon offense?

In the end, there were too many questionable moments this season for a team that couldn't afford any. Now, with the Trojans preparing for the Sun Bowl, recruiting fans have found themselves asking another question.

Five-star defensive end Carl Lawson (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton) has been committed to Auburn since March, but with newly-hired Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn hiring new offensive and defensive coordinators, the nation’s No. 2 prospect is uncertain what to expect.

“I do not know how to respond to the news about the assistant coaches because I have been told they could still interview,” Lawson said. “So as of now I am not sure what to think.”

Malzahn has made a few attempts to get in touch with Lawson, but as of Wednesday night he had been unsuccessful.

The mother of five-star defensive end Carl Lawson (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton) described the in-home visit USC defensive line coach Ed Orgeron made Tuesday as "good," though she couldn't recall Orgeron's name Thursday. She laughed about the lapse in memory before recovering quickly.

"The one from The Blind Side," Ming Gregory Clark said in reference to Orgeron's cameo in the 2009 film.

With a horde of college coaches in pursuit of Lawson, it's entirely understandable for his parents to forget a name or two. Lawson committed to Auburn in March, but the recent firing of coach Gene Chizik has shined a light on his recruitment.

It has been an exciting few days for wide receiver Eldridge Massington (Mesquite, Tex./West Mesquite). After earning an offer from USC and committing to the Trojans late last week, Massington received an invitation to Nike's The Opening Monday evening.

Massington is the 63rd player added to the event and he joins cornerback Chris Hawkins (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga) as USC commits who will be on hand in Beaverton, Ore. from July 5-8.

Hawkins and Massington will certainly brush up on their recruiting pitches during the event, as at least two dozen players scheduled to attend already hold USC offers.

Part of the reason wide receivers coach Tee Martin was brought in this past spring was due to his terrific record as a national recruiter. But after coaching in the high school ranks at North Cobb (Kennesaw, Ga.) and North Atlanta high schools, Martin developed a reputation as a strong recruiter in Georgia, which is where the Trojans will utilize his talents this week.

After stops in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C. last week, Martin hit Atlanta on Monday, making an early stop at Alpharetta (Ga.) Milton High School to check in on defensive end Carl Lawson. The No. 5 player in the ESPN 150 calls himself a solid commitment to Auburn, but he is only one of several Georgia standouts with early offers from the Trojans, who will likely receive visits from Martin.